Grammar and Sentence Structure Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering sentence parts, clause types, sentence structures, and punctuation rules from the lecture.

Subject

Represents what or who the sentence is about.

Compound subject

A subject created when two or more nouns are joined with the word "and".

Predicate

Expresses action or being within the sentence.

Direct object

Usually a pronoun or a noun that receives the action in a sentence.

Indirect object

Indicates to whom or for whom the action of the sentence is being done.

Phrase

A group of related words that does not have a subject-predicate pair and is not a complete thought.

Main clause

The course term for an independent clause, which is a clause that can stand on its own as a sentence.

Subordinate clause

The course term for a dependent clause, which is a clause that cannot stand on its own as a sentence.

Simple sentence

A sentence that contains only one main clause.

Complex sentence

A sentence that has at least one main clause and one subordinate clause.

Coordinating conjunctions

Words (such as the FANBOYS) that create links between words or groups of words.

Semicolon rule

The grammatical rule stating that you never use a FANBOY or comma when using a semicolon.